Uploading Files to Google Drive To access your Google Drive enter the following url into your Chrome browser address bar: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/my-drive All files can be uploaded to Google Drive. If the file is compatible with a Google program such as: Excel = Google Sheets; Word = Google Docs; PowerPoint = Google Slides; then the program will open using the Google compatible program but retaining the original program’s file structure. When you open the original program you uploaded to Drive you will be asked if you want to open it as a Google program or retain the original file format.

You can change a setting in Drive to automatically change all files you upload to the comparable google program by doing the following:

1. Click on the settings gear in the top-right corner 2. Click on Settings 3. To convert uploaded files to Docs format, check the box for Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format and click Done

If the file is not compatible with any of the Google programs then the file will be uploaded to your Google Drive. To open such a file you will need to download the file from Drive and open it on your Windows computer (right-click the file in Drive and choose Download).

If there is a compatible Google program then it will open it for preview. If you wish to open the doc so you can edit it then you need to click the Open box at the top of the preview. The file opens in a Google program but retains the original file structure. After downloading the file to your computer (File - Download As) it will open in the format you choose using the appropriate program.

How to Upload Your Files After logging into Google using your school Google credentials click on the red New button and choose either File Upload (one file) or Folder Upload (the folder and all the files in that folder).

The folder or files will be uploaded to Drive. As soon as the upload begins you can begin another upload. When an upload is complete you will see the message on the right.

The browser must be kept open until all uploads or downloads are complete.

How to download Your Files From Drive to Your Computer Once your files are stored in Google Drive you will need to double-click to open them. If you wish to open a file that is not Google compatible (like photoshop or Digital Image Pro) you will need to download that file to your computer.

Right-click on the file. This menu will allow you to perform a number of operations on the file. If you choose to download the file or folder will be sent to your Downloads folder in Windows.

Choose Download.

The file/folder will be downloaded to your computer. The download will show up along the bottom of the Chrome browser and you can open the file by clicking on the download file name.

You can also find the downloaded file(s) by going to the Start Menu and clicking on your name. There will be a shortcut to Downloads on this page.

You can either open the file and edit it, save it locally, or right click the file and choose Copy and then select where you want to store the file and click Paste.

How to Manage Your Downloaded Files in Drive

If you have trouble remembering what you named a file or just like the structure of folders you can manage your files using folders just as you probably did with Windows.

However, Google is designed to retrieve files by using the search bar. Just type in all or part of a file/folder name or some of the content from the file and Google will list results to choose from.

If you need help just click the small upside down triangle at the end of the search bar and an advanced search opens.

To make retrieval easier name your file starting with the subject matter. This will pop up all files with that subject name as though they were in a folder.